Tag: electrical trade

Electrical Trade

Not everyone is college bound these days. Some just don’t see themselves attending 4 plus years in a classroom setting. While others simply have different interests and tend to do better in more of a hands on learning environment. So what to do- consider a trade, such as becoming an electrician. Did you know there are scholarship programs for trade and vocational schools? More people can pursue their dream of a career in the trades without wondering how they will afford the training and education necessary to do so.

Scholarships can include those for people interested in management at a business or even running their own business. There are also scholarships for special training in the trades for veterans. You can apply for technician scholarships at www.nexstarscholars.communityforce.com

The biggest advantage of a trade school is the short 2 year term compared to a 4 year graduate program. This means you also acquire additional years of experience as well. Cost is considerably different too, with the average trade school degree costing $30k compared to a bachelor’s degree cost of around $125k.

A closer look into the electrical trade

As with any career choice it all starts with the right education and training.

Start with finding a program with an accredited school. Many community colleges offer an electrical training program as well.

Electricians are not required to have a college degree, most states do require electricians to be licensed however.

After completing an electrical program, students go through an apprenticeship before they can become a licensed electrician.

The electrical industry is broader than you might think when first getting started. Nowadays there are expanding opportunities in the field such as solar power installation, wind turbine technology and electrical grid repair. Job growth projections through 2020 have increased in the electrical field upwards of nearly 20% across the United States.

Electrician related majors often found at community colleges include

Building/Property Maintenance

Building/Construction Site Management

Building/Home/Construction Inspection

Carpentry

Construction Trade

The process of applying for trade school grants and scholarships is broken into three steps:

Complete and file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov and pay close attention to deadlines.

Wait to receive your Student Aid Report (SAR). This will specify what kind of aid you will qualify for.

Complete the form for state grants. Once you have received your financial aid award letter from your prospective school, you will then have the option of applying for grants Here is just a small list of grants and scholarships out there available to get you started:

Construction Intern Award

CREW Chicago Scholarship

DEED Student Research Grant/Internship

Construction Technology Scholarship- Yavapai College

Robert L Hite Memorial Scholarship

Empowering Women Through Technical Education Scholarship

A lot of valuable information can also be found on www.explorethetrades.org this site covers topics such as:

What is an electrician

Why become one

Steps to becoming an electrician

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an electrical apprentice

Apply for a scholarship

Find a school

For an example of what could be you check out this electrician in Venice FL. Choosing the electrical trade as a career choice is a promising one, with lots of job opportunity, stability and growth in the future.